It may ‘only’ be the Copa del Rey, but tomorrow night’s semi-final second leg at Camp Nou between Barça and Real Madrid takes on a greater importance due to the delicate situation of both teams. There is not just a place in the final on May 18 at stake as both sides are looking for a boost in morale and improved performances in the run up to the crucial return matches in the Champions League last 16.

Barça’s defeat last week at Milan has activated many of the underlying doubts surrounding the team. Is playing two attacking full backs leaving us too exposed at the back? Should Andrés Iniesta be used in midfield? Is there a place for David Villa in the team? Can Alexis Sanchez overcome his drop in confidence? Is there over-dependency on Leo Messi and should he be rested more? And perhaps most importantly – can Tito Vilanova make the correct decisions when he’s following everything from 6000 km away?

If Barça lose tomorrow then the prospects of turning things around on March 12 when Milan come to Camp Nou will be affected. Having La Liga more or less in the bag will help to cushion the blow but defeat in the cup competitions would leave two long months with only league games to look forward to. The club and fans are used to a healthy dose of high-tension games during the spring months and if we only have the league to play for, especially as there doesn’t look like being a close race for the title, we are going to miss the adrenaline fix this year.

If the game could be key to Barça’s season, for Real Madrid it could be equally crucial. With a difficult trip to Old Trafford next week they will also be looking for confidence-lifting victory. Sixteen points in La Liga looks like too big a difference to recover which means our rivals will have a very complicated end to the season if they fall in both cup competitions.

José Mourinho has the doubt of including the out-of-form Di Maria or Kaká for tomorrow’s game while he will also have to decide on his best central defensive pairing with Raphael Varane, who played so well in the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabéu, threatening Pepe and Sergio Ramos for a place. There is also a good chance that Pepe will partner Varane with Ramos moved to right back and Arbeloa moving to the left. It seems likely that Madrid will try to maintain a high pressing game early on and Barça will need to be very concentrated not to make any stupid mistakes at the back.

Adriano has returned to training normally which means Barça have a total of 23 first-team players available for selection tomorrow. It seems certain that Pinto will continue as our Copa del Rey goalkeeper but I expect the outfield ten will be the same as in Milan. Obviously there is a good case to use Villa or Cristian Tello following their performances against Sevilla on Saturday. However, the fact that Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas all rested at the weekend indicates that they will all be restored to the team as the midfield three. That would leave the front three places for the untouchable Iniesta and Messi, with Pedro, who was also rested against Sevilla, returning to the right wing.

One always hopes for a fair game with as little influence from the referee as possible. However, Barça are not happy with the decision to name Alberto Undiano Mallenco to officiate tomorrow. This is the guy who allowed Madrid to get away with all sorts in the Copa del Rey final at Mestalla two years ago, and it is also a worrying fact that while Mourinho has only won three out of fifteen clásicos, Undiano was the man with the whistle for two of those three victories.

guys hi all of you… i have missed the barcacentral due to study….but still remebered they days of FCBNEWS. i always come to read match report when ever i miss the game.. thanks all of you
especially match reporter…

to night the game is even and it will go either way but i hope we will go all the way and win the match comfortable….
my prediction: Barca 2-0 Madrid

We should just be calm and composed for this match and we’ll dispose of Madrid comfortably at the CAMP (of) NOU (return). I’m also going for a 3-1 win, Nic – first time we’re agreeing on predictions this year. However, I’ll prefer a line-up of;

Pinto
Alves-Pique-Puyol-Alba
Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta
Pedro-Messi-Villa

This allows for a quality defensive combo, a firm balance in midfield, and a potent directness in attack. This will also affgord us the luxury of conjuring the Alba-Iniesta-Villa deadly combo on our left side of attack while Alves-Messi-Pedro can also add to the variations on the right. Not that my opinion matters to our coaches but I strongly recommend that Faberegas and Tello should only be used as impact subs. Wishing our comrades all the best.

I’ll consider not watching the Milan match if the same ‘strongest’ line up starts. I am losing hope with this sort of display. Xavi and Fabregas were absolutely out of sorts today. Like I mentioned before, I am VERY CONFIDENT we could have won if Villa and Song started in attack and midfield respectively. We lack the balance in attack and defence. Players like Xavi and Fabregas are out of form at the wrongest of timing. For the next Clasico, i hope Messi, Xavi and Fabregas doesn’t start! Messi should be kept fresh for Milan. while someone new….either Thiago or Song should be tested in midfield to partner Iniesta. I’d go with Song.

So we have got all the answers to the questions that you have asked above.

And they are all not the way we hoped them to be.

I really think that there is some need of rethinking the messidepentia; the bad transfer record that Barca has; the need for a young and very promising full back plus the urgent need for a world-class full-back; the need for a striker; a rethinking of the squad; getting along without a coach on the bench and to work with them continuously….

Barca gets now out-guessed much too easy plus the players are not in form: Messi, Cesc, Pedro, Busquets….